CRAVEN planners have given the go-ahead to an application to develop Hellifield vicarage and its grounds for housing.

Plans to subdivide the vicarage to create two houses and to build one detached and two semi-detached homes in the grounds were approved by Craven District Council's planning committee on Monday.

This was the second application for the vicarage, situated off Skipton Road and Haw Grove.

The first, seeking outline planning permission, was submitted last December and proposed converting the vicarage into two homes, building four residential units within the grounds and widening the existing access to create a courtyard.

However, Hellifield Parish Council said the plans represented an over development of the site and concern was expressed that it would lead to the loss of existing trees.

The scheme was deferred by the planning committee and later amended, reducing the number of houses fronting Haw Grove and repositioning the detached house so trees on the site, including a large beech protected by a tree preservation order, could be retained.

Access to the development will be from a single driveway, instead of the two previously proposed.

Despite the amendments, members of Hellifield Parish Council were still unhappy with the application.

They said that the development would mean a loss of parking for people attending the church or chapel on Haw Grove and felt the access road was not wide enough.

Objections were also received from local residents, who said there was no need for further houses in the village and that the amenity of neighbouring properties would be affected by the development.

However, in a report to the committee, planning officer Jay Everett said: "In relation to the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, the proposed siting and orientation of the dwellings has been amended to take account of the trees on the site.

"The proposal appears to achieve a reasonable balance between the retention of the trees protected by the tree preservation order and some of the better specimens on the eastern boundary.

"On this basis, it is not considered that the proposal would have any significant adverse effect on the character and appearance of the area."

He added: "The access proposal is to widen the existing access to create a courtyard area servicing the new detached dwelling to the west of the vicarage and two units within the vicarage itself. This access court would also serve the two dwellings to the north of the vicarage.

"The amended plans, have, therefore, addressed one of the principle concerns of the parish council and the objectors by removing the two proposed drives directly onto Haw Grove."

Coun John Sayer said: "I am pleased the developers have taken on board the comments from the site visit and reduced the plans by one dwelling and taken back our comments about the trees.

"I'm quite pleased that they've come back with a scheme which to my mind is acceptable."